Dr. Berklich sees many people weekly in our busy Alpharetta chiropractic office who are trying to find relief from the discomfort and distress they feel due to herniated discs. Our experience isn't unique; the scientific literature verifies that chiropractic therapy is a great way to treat herniated disc problems.
One particular study involved 27 people, 8 male and 19 female, who had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirming a disc herniation in either their neck or lower back. The men and women reported that they were experiencing pain, reduced range of motion, and sensory problems bad enough to keep them off work.
During the course of the research period, the participants were managed using one of two common chiropractic practices: traction for herniated discs in the cervical area or flexion distraction for the people who had herniation issues in the low back.
Each man or woman was seen four or five times per week for the first two weeks, then three times each week, and then as needed for the remainder of the study. Depending on the seriousness of the disc herniation, therapy ranged anywhere from six weeks to six months, with MRIs being performed at a variety of stages to determine what effect, if any, the chiropractic care was having in regard to the disc herniation.
The researchers found that 80 percent of the participants experienced a "good clinical outcome," meaning reduced pain and a reduction in other issues, such as numbness. Additionally, 77% of these individuals also showed MRI evidence that their disc herniation was either reduced or resolved completely. This resulted in 78 percent of the study participants being able to return to their place of employment and led the authors to conclude that chiropractic care is both "safe and helpful" for disc herniations.
If you have a herniated disc and suffer from chronic back pain and are near Dr. Berklich in Alpharetta, contact our office today to see what chiropractic adjustments can do for you!
Reference
BenEliyahu, DJ. Magnetic resonance imaging and clinical follow-up: study of 27 patients receiving chiropractic care for cervical and lumbar disc herniations. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1996;19(9):597-606.
Dr. Berklich
Chiropractic is a bit rebellious in spirit. However, we believe people should feel good, perform well, and know how to stay that way so that each of us has the opportunity to provide for our families and have the ability to contribute to a better, more sustainable future for all of us.